Togo Wants Game Moved Out Of Guinea As Ebola Threatens African Cup Qualifiers

Fearful Togo officials have asked the Confederation of African Football to "move a game out of Ebola-affected Guinea as the outbreak of the deadly disease threatens to badly disrupt the African Cup's final qualifying round," according to Ekoue & Imray of the AP. Games involving Sierra Leone are "already under scrutiny after that country said it would not host any football matches until further notice because of Ebola." The Togo Football Federation's request refers to the "first game of the final group stage in Guinea in the first week of September." The federation said, "We are scared by the situation prevailing in that zone." The TFF added that it would "follow advice from its government, which would likely prevent the party travelling to Guinea." Togo stressed it would not "put in danger" the lives of its players and officials and said some of the squad members had "already expressed fears over going to Guinea" (AP, 8/11). The AP reported Sierra Leone has asked for permission to play some of its African Cup qualifiers in Ghana "because of the Ebola outbreak." The CAF said the request had "been made to Ghanaian authorities and 'necessary reviews are being undertaken'" (AP, 8/12).